Look, I've said before, and I will say again, I don't play games with news about the books. I know how many people are waiting, how long they have been waiting, how anxious they are. I am still working on WINDS. When it's done, I will announce it here [on GRRM's site]. There won't be any clues to decipher, any codes or hidden meanings, the announcement will be straightforward and to the point. I won't time it to coincide with Xmas or Valentine's Day or Lincoln's Birthday, the book will not rise from the dead with Jesus on Easter Sunday. When it is done, I will say that's it is done, on whatever day I happen to finish.I don't know how I can make it any clearer.

THE WINDS OF WINTER is not finished.
Believe me, it gave me no pleasure to type those words. You're disappointed, and you're not alone. My editors and publishers are disappointed, HBO is disappointed, my agents and foreign publishers and translators are disappointed... but no one could possibly be more disappointed than me. For months now I have wanted nothing so much as to be able to say, "I have completed and delivered THE WINDS OF WINTER" on or before the last day of 2015.
But the book's not done.
Nor is it likely to be finished tomorrow, or next week. Yes, there's a lot written. Hundreds of pages. Dozens of chapters. (Those 'no pages done' reports were insane, the usual garbage internet journalism that I have learned to despise). But there's also a lot still left to write. I am months away still... and that's if the writing goes well. (Sometimes it does. Sometimes it doesn't.) Chapters still to write, of course... but also rewriting. I always do a lot of rewriting, sometimes just polishing, sometimes pretty major restructures.

The blog entry further details the writing process of 2015, and states that it is almost certain that the book won't be released before the sixth season of GOT airs, mid-April.

What's the material that has already been published or revealed from The Winds of Winter?Spoiler tagged for obvious reasons

Spoiler

Prologue, featuring an appearance by Jeyne Westerling. It is currently unknown who the POV will be for this prologue.

Barristan I,published in 2013 paperback edition of A Dance with Dragons

Tyrion I, read at Miscon 2012

Victarion I, read at Miscon 2012

Barristan II, read at Boscone 50 in 2012

Tyrion II, released in the 2014 update of A World of Ice and Fire, the official app

Theon I, released on GRRM's website in 2011, also released in the back of several A Dance with Dragons paperback editions

Arianne I, released on GRRM's website in 2013

Arianne II, read at Worldcon 2011

Mercy, removed from A Dance with Dragons, placed in The Winds of Winter, released on GRRM's website.

Alayne I, removed from A Dance with Dragons, placed in The Winds of Winter. Recently posted on GRRMs website, currently available for reading.

In total, we know about 11 chapters

On the tales of Dunk & Egg, and links to the main series:

How many Dunk & Egg stories have been published? Where are they published in?

Three Dunk and Egg stories are published at the moment. For now, they are

1. The Hedge Knight
A short story to be found either in "Legends, edited by Robert Silverberg" or in "Dreamsongs II by George R.R. Martin". There is also a rendition as a graphic novel by the same name: "The Hedge Knight".

2. The Sworn Sword
A short story to be found either in "Legends II - Dragon, Sword and King, edited by Robert Silverberg" or in the original hard- and softcover editions of "Legends II" from 2003 & 2004. There is also a rendition as a graphic novel by the same name: "The Sworn Sword".

3. The Mystery Knight
A short story to be found either in "Warriors, edited by George R.R. Martin and Gardner Dozois" or in the paperback "Warriors 1, edited by George R.R. Martin and Gardner Dozois". No graphic novel... yet.

Two more Dunk & Egg stories yet to be written have already been described. They are known as "The She-wolves of Winterfell" and "The Village Hero". Both of these are working titles, though, not final titles. Four additional titles have been mentioned by Martin: "The Sellsword", "The Champion", "The Kingsguard", and "The Lord Commander".

Will the Dunk & Egg tales be published in one book?
The first three tales of Dunk and Egg will be published in one book, titled "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms", to be released in english on 6-10-2015. In some other languages, however, it has already been published. "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms" will contain pages filled with artwork, which the other versions don't have.

Was Dunk ever knighted by Ser Arlan?
In spoiler tags:

Spoiler

No. Whether he was knighted later in life, is unknown, but likely, given his status as Lord Commander of the Kingsguard.

Are there any descendants of Dunk alive in the series today?
Yes. GRRM has expressed that we'd meet one of Dunk's descendants. Brienne of Tarth finds the shield Dunk owns in The Hedge Knight. Hodor is often heavily suspected to be a descendant of Dunk's due to his enormous size, and the fact that people believe the young girl and the "knight as tall as Hodor" in the vision Bran sees in A Dance with Dragons are Old Nan (in her youth) and Dunk, and that the event is to take place during The She-Wolves of Winterfell.Small Paul (from the Night's Watch) has also been suggested to be a descendant of Dunks, due to his size and the mention of "thick as a castle wall", which is also used to describe Dunk.

Why were Ned and Robert at the Eyrie when mad king Aerys II sent to Jon Arryn for their heads?
It is true Ned and Robert were past their squiring and fostering age, when they visited Jon Arryn together at the Eyrie at that certain time. There is clarification on this both in TWoIaF and an older SSM telling that they liked to spend some of their time there together.

What is the right of the first night?
The right of the first night, better known as droit du seigneur (which only looks French, although it is English usage, the French use different terminology) or jus primae noctis is a medieval custom that has been abolished in Westeros (by Jaeherys I & Septon Barth) as in the real world (apart from a few small islands in the English channel).
It allows the lord to be the first to consummate any marriage before the husband, thus potentially to sire numerous bastard children. In the real world, husbands would pay a fee to their lord for not making use of this right.

What is "guest right" and why is it so important?
The guest right is a sacred law of hospitality. When a guest, no matter the station of birth, eats the food and drinks the drink beneath the host's roof, the guest right is invoked. Bread and salt are the traditional provisions.
When invoked, neither the guest is allowed to do harm to his host, nor is the host allowed to do harm to his guest for the length of the guest's stay. For either to do so would be to break a sacred covenant that is believed to invoke the wrath of the Gods both old and new. Both the teachings of the old gods and the Faith of the Seven hold to this. Even robber lords and wreckers are bound by the ancient laws of hospitality.

Guest gifts can be given when the guests depart, ending the guest right. House Manderly practises this tradition in A Dance with Dragons.

Breaking the guest right is seen as a terrible thing. The example stated in the books concern the Rat Cook. A cook in the Night's Watch who killed the kings son, and cooked the son in a pie he served to the king, leading to the unknowingly eating his own son. The gods punished the Rat Cook, by turning him into a giant rat who could only feed by eating its own young. The gods did not punish the cook for feeding the king his own son, but for killing a man beneath his own roof.

Does the Wall block warging?
It appears so. Jon Snow isn't capable of connecting with Ghost anymore, when they have the Wall in between them, nor can Jon, warged in Ghost, feel Summer when Summer is north of the Wall, and Jon and Ghost south.

Whether this is the same for each warg/skinchanger, or depends on the strength of the individual, is a matter of discussion. It does appear that Bran, warged into the weirwood net, can see south of the Wall, whilst being north of it.

What's the kindness Jaime never did?
Jaime is referring to Tysha, and how Tyrion believed that Jaime bought Tysha's services to make Tyrion into a man (making him lose his virginity). Jaime never paid Tysha, however, as Tysha wasn't a whore. In other words, a kindness that Jaime never did.

In A Dance with Dragons, Septon Chayle is at the Wall. Wasn't he the septon at Winterfell? Didn't he die in A Clash of Kings?
Indeed. This is an error., Septon Cellador is the Septon at Castle Black. Septon Chayle, as far as is known, is dead.

If the gates in King's Landing were closed, how did Arya get to the harbor? You need to cross a gate...
A well known issue. People have tried to find explanations for it, but most have not yet been satisfied. Here's the most recent given explanation.

How come Cersei and Margaery need a Kingsguard Knight to defend them in their trials in A Dance with Dragons, while Gregor Clegane, not a Kingsguard Knight, was allowed to defend Cersei in Tyrion's trial in A Storm of Swords?
Because in Tyrion's trial, it wasn't Cersei who stood accused.. Tyrion was accused, Cersei the accuser. Tyrion didn't necessarily need to use a Kingsguard knight in that trial because he isn't royalty.

In Cersei's case in Dance (and in Margaery's case, should she opt for a trial by combat, should her first trial fail), Cersei is the Queen Regent, Margaery the Queen. They are royalty, and it is them who stand accued. They are not the accusers. Thus, they need a Kingsguard to defend them.

If knights are custom of the followers of the Seven, why there are knights in the North (Old Gods) and in the Iron Islands (Drowned God)?
There aren't many. So far we know of a single Ironborn knight. Knights from the North spring forth from a few sources:

1. White Harbor and the Manderlys
The Manderys in White harbor brought the new gods and Southern customs along, so knighthood is more common there.

2. Houses near the Neck
Houses who have business with the South may have a few knights, as customs mingle.

3. War returnees
Some Northerners simply get knighted by Southern nobility during war time, it cannot be helped. Ser Jorah Mormont is an example.

4. Hedge Knights and Freeriders
People living the life of a hedge knight or freeriders in service in the South might face the same treatment, when the do too many chivalrous deeds, although an example is missing here.

Who can make a knight?
Any knight can make a knight. As knighthood is a form of distinction, the higher in renown or social status the maker, the better for the image of the knight made. Kings can also knight people, but lords cannot (unless they have once been knighted themselves).

So for example, King Robert Baratheon, knighted in his youth, can knight people (and has) because he is a knight himself, and because he is a king. King Baelor I, a king, but not a knight, could have knighted anyone he wanted to. Lord Eddard Stark, never knighted himself, can't knight anyone.

How old are Dany's dragons as of the end of Dance?
Born in early 299 AC, the dragons are currently around 1,5 years old.

Who is Jon Snow's mother?
Have a look into the first post of the current (fixed) R+L=J thread in the General ASoIaF forum. It links to collections of theories on Jon Snow's parentage.

Who are the marcher lords?
Marcher lords are powerful lords who guard region near border with Dorne, known as the Dornish Marches. They have large keeps and maintain large forces, to defend lands of the Reach and Stormlands in case of Dornish attack.

Marcher lords:
- in the Stormlands:
House Selmy, House Dondarrion, House Swann, House Caron
- in the Reach:
House Tarly, possibly House Peake

When Arya is serving at Harrenhal, she sees Roose Bolton cautionly turning the pages of a very ornate and fragile book, before throwing it to the fire. Do we know which book was that?No.

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Does anyone have the quote handy regarding religion in Valyria from the WOIAF? My recollection was that it was similar to Braavos in that more or less anything was worshipped but I'd like to check

You mean these ones?

For centuries, the Braavosi remained hidden from the world in their remote lagoon. And even after it unveiled itself, Braavos continued to be known as the Secret City. The Braavosi were a people who were no people: scores of races, a hundred tongues, and hundreds of gods. All they had in common was the Valyrian that formed the common trade language of Essos—and the fact that they were now free where once they had been slaves. The moonsingers were honored for leading them to their city, but the wisest among the freed slaves determined that, to unify themselves, they must accept all the gods the slaves had brought with them, holding none higher than any other. (TWOIAF - Ancient History: Valyria's Children)

To this day, no oneknowswhatcaused the Doom. Most say that it was a natural cataclysm—a catastrophic explosion caused by the eruption of all Fourteen Flames together. Some septons, less wise, claim that the Valyrians brought the disaster on themselves for their promiscuous belief in a hundred gods and more, and in their godlessness they delved too deep and unleashed the fires of the Seven hells on the Freehold. A handful of maesters, influenced by fragments of the work of Septon Barth, hold that Valyria had used spells to tame the Fourteen Flames for thousands of years, that their ceaseless hunger for slaves and wealth was as much to sustain these spells as to expand their power, and that when at last those spells faltered, the cataclysm became inevitable. (TWOIAF - Ancient History: The Doom of Valyria)

Some scholars have suggested that the dragonlords regarded all faiths as equally false, believing themselves to be more powerful than any god or goddess. They looked upon priests and temples as relics of a more primitive time, though useful for placating "slaves, savages, and the poor" with promises of a better life to come. Moreover, a multiplicity of gods helped to keep their subjects divided and lessened the chances of their uniting under the banner of a single faith to overthrow their overlords. Religious tolerance was to them a means of keeping the peace in the Lands of the Long Summer.

and

Many Valyrians worshipped more than one god, turning to different deities according to their needs; more, it is said, worshipped none at all. Most regarded freedom of faith as a hallmark of any truly advanced civilization.Yetto some, this plethora of gods was a source of continuing grievance. "The man who honors all the gods honors none at all," a prophet of the Lord of Light, R'hllor the Red, once famously declared. And even at the height of its glory, the Freehold was home to many who believed fiercely in their own particular god or goddess and regarded all others as false idols, frauds, or demons, bent on deceiving mankind.(TWOIAF - The Free Cities: Norvos)

Many of the Old Blood of Volantis still keep the old gods of Valyria, but their faith is found primarily within the Black Walls. (TWOIAF - The Free Cities: Volantis)

Quote

eta; if someone who is not on mobile and can create the new OP wants to start a new thread I'll pin it while I'm about

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Whoever he was, he began to preach in the Cobbler's Square, saying that the dragons were demons, the spawn of godless Valyria, and the doom of men. Scores listened—then hundreds, then thousands. Fear begat anger, and anger begat a thirst for blood. And when the Shepherd announced that the city would be saved only when the city was cleansed of dragons, people listened.

Of the history of Valyriaas it is known today, many volumes have been written over the centuries, and the details of their conquests, their colonizations, the feuds of the dragonlords, the godsthey worshipped, and more could fill libraries and still not be complete. Galendro's The Fires of the Freehold is widely considered the most definitive history, and even there the Citadel lacks twenty-seven of the scrolls.

To this day, no one knows what caused the Doom. Most say that it was a natural cataclysm—a catastrophic explosion caused by the eruption of all Fourteen Flames together. Some septons, less wise, claim that the Valyrians brought the disaster on themselves for their promiscuous belief in a hundred godsand more, and in their godlessness they delved too deep and unleashed the fires of the Seven hells on the Freehold. A handful of maesters, influenced by fragments of the work of Septon Barth, hold that Valyriahad used spells to tame the Fourteen Flames for thousands of years, that their ceaseless hunger for slaves and wealth was as much to sustain these spells as to expand their power, and that when at last those spells faltered, the cataclysm became inevitable.

. In Valryia before the Doom, wise men wrote, a thousand godswere honored, but none were feared, so few dared to speak against these customs.

The singers dubbed her the Realm's Delight, for she was bright and precocious—a beautiful child who was already a dragonrider at the age of seven as she flew on the back of her she-dragon Syrax, named for one of the old gods of Valyria.

In 105 AC, her mother finally delivered the son that the king and queen had both longed for, but the queen died in childbirth, and the boy—na

Dozens of such sects flourished in Valyria, sometimes quarreling violently with one another. Inevitably, some found the tolerance of the Freehold to be intolerable and set out into the wilderness to found cities of their own, godly cities where only the "true faith" would be practiced. We have already spoken of the followers of the Blind GodBoash who founded Lorath and what befell them there. Qohor was settled by worshippers of that grim deity known only as the Black Goat, as shall be related shortly. But the sect that settled Norvos is as strange, or stranger, than either of these, and far more secretive.

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'Like Valyria, their mother, these three daughters have no established faith. Temples and shrines to many different godsline their streets and crowd their waterfronts. '

' Many of the Old Blood of Volantis still keep the old godsof Valyria, but their faith is found primarily within the Black Walls. Without, the red godR'hllor is favored by many, especially among the slaves and freedmen of the city. The Temple of the Lord of Light in Volantis is said to be the greatest in all the world; in Remnants of the Dragonlords, Archmaester Gramyon claims that it is fully three times larger than the Great Sept of Baelor. All who serve within this mighty temple are slaves, bought as children and trained to become priests, temple prostitutes, or warriors; these wear the flames of their fiery godas tattoos upon their faces. Of the warriors, little enough is said, though they are called the Fiery Hand, and they never number more or less than one thousand members. '

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I'm a little bit confused about the battles in the Westerlands during the First Blackfyre Rebellion. We have two short accounts on those:

Quote

"Later on, Fireball killed Lord Lefford at the gates of Lannisport and sent the Grey Lion running back to hide inside the Rock. At the crossing of the Mander, he cut down the sons of Lady Penrose one by one." (The Mystery Knight)

Quote

In the years that followed, the Lannisters stood with the Targaryens against Daemon Blackfyre, though the Black Dragon’s rebels won victories of note in the westerlands—especially at Lannisport and the Golden Tooth, where Ser Quentyn Ball, the hot-tempered knight renowned as Fireball, slew Lord Lefford and sent Lord Damon Lannister (later famed as the Grey Lion) into retreat. (The World of Ice and Fire, House Lannister under the Dragons)

The second one sounds like Fireball slew Lord Lefford at the Golden Tooth, while the first one says that it was at Lannisport.

Has anyone an idea what was going on there? Maybe the route the rebells took into the Westerlands?

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I'm a little bit confused about the battles in the Westerlands during the First Blackfyre Rebellion. We have two short accounts on those:

The second one sounds like Fireball slew Lord Lefford at the Golden Tooth, while the first one says that it was at Lannisport.

Has anyone an idea what was going on there? Maybe the route the rebells took into the Westerlands?

I read the second quote as saying that at Lannisport he killed Lord Lefford, and at the Golden Tooth he sent Damon into retreat. Tho I think its poorly worded, its a former and ladder type thing. The first lord mentioned was at the first battle mentioned and vice versa.

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I guess that would be an explanation, thanks. Although it seems a little bit strange that Lord Lefford was at Lannisport and Lord Lannister at the Golden Tooth, but we might learn about the details someday.

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I guess that would be an explanation, thanks. Although it seems a little bit strange that Lord Lefford was at Lannisport and Lord Lannister at the Golden Tooth, but we might learn about the details someday.

Not at all. Lord Lannister would presumably be Warden of the West and in charge of the Westerland's armies. It makes sense that he would be out fighting on the front line, rather than sitting tight near Casterly Rock

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Any chance that Lyanna was a skinchanger? She seems to have a strong link to horses with the comments about being a centaur (I know Ben got this too) but then someone else says she is like "half a horse". Just curious.

I did a search here and did not find anything but don't want to start another unnecessary thread if one has been established.

Thanks for keeping me straight.

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Any chance that Lyanna was a skinchanger? She seems to have a strong link to horses with the comments about being a centaur (I know Ben got this too) but then someone else says she is like "half a horse". Just curious.

I did a search here and did not find anything but don't want to start another unnecessary thread if one has been established.

Thanks for keeping me straight.

The lantern light in her eyes made them seem as if they were afire. “Brandon was fostered at Barrowton with old Lord Dustin, the father of the one I’d later wed, but he spent most of his time riding the Rills. He loved to ride. His little sister took after him in that. A pair of centaurs, those two. And my lord father was always pleased to play host to the heir to Winterfell.

At the moment, imo, there's nothing suggesting that Lyanna and/or Brandon were skinchangers. That they were "a pair of centaurs" doesn't automatically that they were skinchanging the horses in question, after all.

So while it might change due to future information, atm, no, I don't see anything pointing towards it.

If I'm not mistaken, all the Starks have been considered in the fandom to have potentially been skinchangers. I've seen conversations about Lyanna, Brandon, Benjen, Eddard, Rickard... But again, personally, I see nothing poiting towards that being the case for any of them, at the moment.

The lantern light in her eyes made them seem as if they were afire. “Brandon was fostered at Barrowton with old Lord Dustin, the father of the one I’d later wed, but he spent most of his time riding the Rills. He loved to ride. His little sister took after him in that. A pair of centaurs, those two. And my lord father was always pleased to play host to the heir to Winterfell.

At the moment, imo, there's nothing suggesting that Lyanna and/or Brandon were skinchangers. That they were "a pair of centaurs" doesn't automatically that they were skinchanging the horses in question, after all.

So while it might change due to future information, atm, no, I don't see anything pointing towards it.

If I'm not mistaken, all the Starks have been considered in the fandom to have potentially been skinchangers. I've seen conversations about Lyanna, Brandon, Benjen, Eddard, Rickard... But again, personally, I see nothing poiting towards that being the case for any of them, at the moment.

Thank you. That is part of what I was trying to get a good answer in for another thought I had. I wasn't trying to prove or say she definitely was. Just a thought and everyone here in real life are tired of my ASOIAF questions.

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NW and KG vows are similar. If a man of the NW deserts, his life is forfeit. What about KG? Is it just dishonorable or is it punishable by death?

If selmy wanted to defect to be with Ashara, could he? I know, I know, he was way too honorable. But was it even possible?

Kingsguard is only 300 years old, a lot less precedent than the NW, but I can tell you Selmy was removed without precedent, and that Fireball who was promised a place and not given one sided with Dameon Blackfyre. During the Dance of Dragons members defected in a certain sense, but since Rhanyra was the rightful Queen by law they didn't really defect, instead those that sided with Aegon were the lawful defectors from my POV. Really all we can say is that a Kingsguard decides who their ruler is.

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NW and KG vows are similar. If a man of the NW deserts, his life is forfeit. What about KG? Is it just dishonorable or is it punishable by death?

If selmy wanted to defect to be with Ashara, could he? I know, I know, he was way too honorable. But was it even possible?

The KG swear an oath to protect their king and serve their king for as long as they'll live. Their position as KG, at least until Cersei got involved, was for life. So walking away, will mean exile, and should such a KG be caught, he'd presumably be severily punished, and execution then indeed becomes a possibility.

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Do we ever find out which person physically put the box with the Myrish lens and compartment hiding Lysa's letter to Catelyn way back in GoT? I know it was Littlefinger's doing and it was someone that came to WF with King Robert and her entorage. But I can't recall who or how they did it.